I'm in Minnesota, and whether I just had a run of not-so-good Wahler T-stats, or perhaps the cold weather going to hot, I cannot say. I replaced my already replaced-by-me Wahler T-stat two times in less than one year because of small, but noticeable leaks at the thermistor sensor. When the third one sprang the leak I was motivated enough to read all the threads and saw WDE46's. My newest T-stat has now been in about 3500 miles and is bone dry with no dried coolant residues. I saved the last T-stat that leaked, since I now know how to make it right.

I'm in Minnesota, and whether I just had a run of not-so-good Wahler T-stats, or perhaps the cold weather going to hot, I cannot say. I replaced my already replaced-by-me Wahler T-stat two times in less than one year because of small, but noticeable leaks at the thermistor sensor. When the third one sprang the leak I was motivated enough to read all the threads and saw WDE46's. My newest T-stat has now been in about 3500 miles and is bone dry with no dried coolant residues. I saved the last T-stat that leaked, since I now know how to make it right.

Thanks, WDE46 !

Mariner05

I've got a Wahler stat that's been in since late 2014 and has some residue, the one it replaced was just under two years old. That one soft failed and threw the P0128 code. My Meyle water pump has been in since early 2013 and going strong, the Graf in my e36 is older and still going strong.
OP Mark your belts so they go on in the same direction they came off.

__________________

Alternative to expensive xi control arm bushings To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Bad outer xi ball joint? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

i want to confess too, i had both my water pump and thermostat out of the car on separate occasions and i thought to myself, i might as well put in new ones, and then i thought, nah and installed the old ones back in. 116k

i want to confess too, i had both my water pump and thermostat out of the car on separate occasions and i thought to myself, i might as well put in new ones, and then i thought, nah and installed the old ones back in. 116k

I would not suggest doing this. The water pump and t-stat are scheduled maintenance items. They are not meant to last life of car. They are scheduled to be replaced before they fail.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

i want to confess too, i had both my water pump and thermostat out of the car on separate occasions and i thought to myself, i might as well put in new ones, and then i thought, nah and installed the old ones back in. 116k

Just something I've heard of. I imagine the belt can wear running in one direction and reversing it could cause issues. Better safe than sorry. This is from an Autozone site so take it for what it's worth, but about halfway down the page it specifies reinstalling the old belt in the same direction it came off. http://www.autozone.com/repairguides...00c152801b22fb

__________________

Alternative to expensive xi control arm bushings To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Bad outer xi ball joint? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

It's been a while since I did the stat on my m54 and I don't remember taking any brackets off. My m52 requires the lifting hook to be removed because one of the bolts holding it goes through the housing.

__________________

Alternative to expensive xi control arm bushings To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Bad outer xi ball joint? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

330i has 110k and both were original from 2001.
Impeller was in perfect condition. Water pump bearing seemed fine. No wobble at all.
Thermostat was working perfectly.
In highsight, and all during the repair, I was saying I should have just left it alone.
Probably did not need to do this.

Took me over 4 hours from start to finish.
This one was way harder than it was supposed to be.
1) Hoses were nearly impossible separate from the radiator.
2) Pulley was fused to the water pump. Took forever to remove
3) Water pump was PITA to remove. Removal bolt threads were mucked, and WP still stuck when they were bottomed out.
4) Water pump was hard to push back into place. Had to eventually bolt it down to get it to seat.

I contemplated just leaving the 2 old radiator hoses, but it sucks to buy parts, not use them, and reinstall old ones.
The new pats would mock me from the shelf every time I went in the garage. Pussy!
It was now or never. Pry bar was nearly impossible to use, since everything is plastic.
The worst case is to break the existing part, and not be able to install the new part.
I had to keep yanking for like 15 mins straight until they gave.

Oh, and I mixed blue coolant with green. LOL.

Here are some tips for the next guy:

For the lower radiator hose, once I got some movement, I used a screwdriver to pry it off a little more.

I understand the part about if it ain't broke, don't fix it but if you have the parts you just do it. My biggest fear about radiator hoses is breaking the necks on the radiator. The 4 hours isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just means you paid attention to details and didn't rush. I'm sure you'll get some flack about your coolant choice, but not from me. You just have fewer things to worry about now.

__________________

Alternative to expensive xi control arm bushings To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Bad outer xi ball joint? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Yup, I was worried about cracking the radiator and creating a whole new mess (and disabling the car for a few days)
I was very careful and sparing with the pry bar, but it was not coming off without the pry bar.